Stamping with Noel

Thursday Tool Tip: Stamping With Big Shot Dies!

 

Today I took this stamped dish towel out of the drawer (made using my Big Shot and the Lattice Bigz Die at one of my Focus on the Big Shot classes last year) and hung it on my oven.  I have to say that just seeing it brought a smile to my face. I love to have items around the house that I have created within the depths of my craft room.

The technique of 'creating stamps with your Big Shot dies' is actually quite simple:

• Pick a Big Shot Die of your choice - it must be a standard or Bigz die; sizzlits and framelits do not work for this process as they can not cut through the thick material required.
• Die cut your shape from fun foam or other material (like Cut-n-Dry stamp pad foam from Inkssentials) available at craft supply stores or even leftover rubber scraps (see blog post link below!).  
• Mount your shape on a wood block or, if cutting from fun foam, you might even choose to create a clear mount stamp - simply die cut a second shape from our Clear-Mount Cling Foam (keep both layers of backing material on the foam until after you have cut your shape!) and attach to the fun foam shape!
• Now you are ready to stamp with acrylic paint mixed with a fabric medium (also found at your craft supply stores).  

I love to make my tools do double, or even triple duty!  Don't limit yourself to the obvious.  Make your tools work for you.  

For another take on creating stamps with your Big Shot and the Lattice Bigz Die, check out this post:

Stamps with Leftover Rubber and the Big Shot

Or, how about using your Big Shot and the Lattice Bigz Die for the masking technique:
(Done with the Doily Sizzlit below ... this technique works with sizzlits as you only need to cut through paper!)

Masking with Big Shot Dies 

Have fun putting your tools to work!

5 Minute Mondays: Tea Shoppe Get Well Card

I've been fighting a horrible flu/cold for weeks, and struggling to keep up with everything on my plate - so today I sat down and made myself a get well card with the retiring Tea Shoppe stamp set:

 

The inspiration for this card?

I've been drowning myself in thyme tea from my garden (thank you Jennifer, Natural Herbalist, for the suggestion!).  It is straight from my garden, free, and replaces all of the store bought teas - which, by the way, I had already exhausted!  And, best yet, I found I like the taste.

Technique:

I guess the only 'technical' detail on this card is the tea bag tag itself. To create this simple element:  

• I simply folded a piece of cardstock in half, stamped the front of it with a portion of the tea cup stamp, then cut to a square to make the tag.  
  (It would be a rectangle if unfolded!)
• To make it appear that it came out of the cup, I pierced a tiny hole through the top of my cup, as well as the center of my tag, through which I inserted my baker's twine.
• Lastly, I used a Stampin' Dimensional under both layers of my tag to give it more dimension.

The multiple stampings of my Teeny Tiny Wishes get well sentiment are not aligned, but this is 5 Minute Mondays afterall - if it bothers you, take a few minutes longer and get out your Stamp-a-ma-jig!

Oh, and I'm feeling better already ... well, I'm smiling as I always am when I finish a project. 

Shop the retiring stamps and accessories - CLICK HERE!

Happy Monday!

Featuring Nature's Pace Grapes & the Big Shot

As I continue to highlight my favorite sets from the retiring stamp list, I realized that I had never used the grapes from the Nature's Pace stamp set!  In all honesty, I purchased the set for the bee stamp.  And I knew that I could use the thistle stamp for scrapbooking my Edinburg Scotland trip, but the lovely grapes have just sat there unnoticed ... until now!

Technique Tips:

Stamps like this one scream to be colored with the Stampin' Write markers!  I don't think the image would be near as successful if stamped in a single color - and you try lining your green and purple ink pads up just where you want them (although it can be done if you are careful and use the corner of the pad). Also, the marker technique allows you to add a little shading, as I've done in the leaves using two separate green markers. 

Just remember to huff on your stamp after coloring and before stamping.  The hot moist air will revive any ink that has started to dry on your stamps.

To shop the retiring stamp collection - click here!

5 Minute Mondays: Highlighting Retiring Nature Stamps with Stippled Watercolor Splotches

Perhaps this week's 5 Minute Monday project should go under the Artistic Endeavors category ... but, no, my fingers didn't officially get dirty - and you won't believe how quick and easy this technique is! 

"Stippled Watercolor Splotches" Technique:

• Choose a variety of lined stamps (bold images don't work as well with this technique).
• Heat Emboss your chosen images on Whisper White card stock with Basic Black Stampin' Emboss Powder.
  (Remember, this is 5 Minute Mondays, and with clear mount stamps you can mount all of your stamps on a single block and stamp/emboss once per card!) 
• Open three classic ink pads of your choosing giving access to your inside lid - I've used Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade.
• Put one drop of ink refill into each lid and spritz with water (just one pump should be enough).
• Using a separate stipple brush from your craft store, pounce color onto your stipple brush from the lid and pounce onto your project.

Technique Tips:

DO NOT OVER THINK THIS!  When pouncing on your color work quickly and don't over think the placement of color - this is a quick and easy technique, not detailed coloring. GO OUTSIDE THE LINES ... GET A LITTLE MESSY ... HAVE FUN!

I always recommend that my customers purchase their ink refills at the same time as the stamp pads ... not only does this prevent you from working with a dried out ink pad, but it opens up new techniques!  

Purchase your Classic Ink Pads and Refills here.

And don't miss out on these Retiring Stamp Sets (used on my cards above) - only available through June 3rd:

Nature's Pace Stamp Set

Kindness Matters Stamp Set

Nature Walk Stamp Set

Q&A: Multi-color Stamping Techniques Revisited

Recently one of my customers contacted me with a request for a refresher on multi-color stamping.  While this question was the inspiration for taking my 5 Minute Monday card 'Up a Notch' on Wednesday (5 Minute Monday Goes Up a Notch), it also reminded me of a series I did over a year ago with tips on Multi-Color Stamping Techniques.

For those of you whose memories do not go back so far, here are the links to the 5 part multi-color stamping technique series:

Click on the following links for my original blog posts 

Multi-color stamping with Stampin' Write Markers

Multi-color stamping with Classic Ink Pads

Multi-color stamping with Versamark

Multi-color stamping with Classic Ink Refills

Multi-color stamping with Classic Ink Refills - Advanced!

If you need any help with these techniques, or any of the products I've used, please let me know. 

Jewelry Tag Punch Faux Leather Alice in Wonderland Necklace Embellishment

 

This is a jewelry piece I wore to my Mad Hatter's Ball last night.  The bottle is an old 7 Gypsies embellishment I had in my stash ... I simply added the microbeads and a screw eye from the hardware store so that I could attach it to a chain.

Do you like the look of the faux leather tag?  This was very simple to do.

How to make a Faux Leather Tag:

1. Print "Drink Me" on a piece of Very Vanilla Card Stock.  You may need to experiment with fonts and font sizes to get it just right.  Alternatively you could stamp an image - but use StazOn Black Ink for its durability under the distressing conditions!
2. Punch your image with the Jewelry Tag Punch, as well as 4 additional Very Vanilla tags.
3. Use an Anywhere Glue Stick to glue all 5 tags together into a single thick tag, with your image tag on front.
4. Now it is time to PLAY!  Mist your tag with water, then distress with a variety of inks to add color - I used a bit of River Rock, Crumb Cake (this was my main color!), Creamy Caramel (retired), Soft Suede, Cajun Craze and More Mustard Classic Inks.  Use the ink very sparingly and mist along the way if needed.  Keep your darkest colors to the edges, so the tag doesn't get too dark in the middle.  Let dry.
5. Punch a hole with a 1/16th Inch Handheld Circle Punch.
6. Apply a thin layer of Crystal Effects to your tag. Repierce your hole with a straight pin while the adhesive is still wet.  Let dry.

Your faux leather tag is now ready to be attached to your jewelry piece!  I love that the tag has some 'weather proofing' (via the Crystal Effects) and yet is still pliable like real leather!  You can use this same method to make a larger piece for a card, scrapbook page or other paper craft!

Lessons from an OutTake: Another Look at My Summer Silhouettes Card

Today I want to share with you this 'outtake' of sorts, a card of trial and error made when I sat down to make the card I shared for my Card Sketch #6 (see here):

The idea for this version was to create a single layer card by replacing the 3D flower from the original version with an embossed flower from the Fabulous Florets Stamp Set.  The card is not perfect, but there are several 'errors' on this card that I just love!

1. The leaf image from the Summer Silhouettes Stamp Set did not fully emboss due to incomplete inking - but I love the imperfection it adds to the leaves, reminiscent of nature itself!
2. The Daffodil Delight Classic Ink from the lattice stamp from the Summer Silhouettes Stamp Set had not dried when I added my leaves, so the Wild Wasabi Stampin' Emboss Powder speckled the lattice - I think this gives cohesiveness to the piece that might otherwise be lacking & it has an old mossy gate feel!
3. I also didn't mask my red flower perfectly, and that is one error I would tend to want to correct.

So I ask you - when you don't get the results you want from a card attempt, do you normally rework it until you do?  Do you enjoy the 'charming imperfections of a handmade card' and move on?  Crumble it up and toss it aside?

I would suggest that you look at the 'errors' and see what you can learn from your card - maybe you'll have a new technique that you like (as I do my mossy lattice!).

'Edible' Stamping Ideas With Scentsational Season Stamp Set!

Holiday Gift Giving is on its way!  Are you giving gingerbread cookies this holiday season?  Or perhaps a personalized photomug filled with hot cocoa fixings?  Would you like your stamped images on your gift packaging to look truly edible?  

Try these quick tips for the Scentsational Season Stamp Set bundled with the Holiday Collection Framelits:

1. Take a 'bite' out of your gingerbread man:
   
   
   
   Simply stamp, die cut, and use our Scallop Oval Punch to take a bite out of the gingerbreadman's leg! 
   
   
2. Split your candy cane into two cups of cocoa:
   
   
   
   Simply stamp two mugs and one candy cane, die cut your stamped shapes, slit your mug, cut the candy cane in half and tuck into the mugs!

These simple tips will take your stamping from simply average to simply edible!

Remember to purchase these products BUNDLED to SAVE MONEY!

Holiday Collection Framelits Dies (127814)
Scentsational Season Stamp Set (Clear 121190 & Wood 121026)
Scentsational Season Bundle (Clear 129946 and Wood 129945) 

Looking for more holiday craft ideas & tutorials?  My 12 weeks of Christmas email series is underway.  Make certain you are signed up for my mailing list!

 

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Counting Down to the 12 Weeks of Christmas Series!

Christmas newsletter series is coming soon! 

Beginning October 3rd, subscribers to my email newsletter can expect a new holiday card, gift idea, gift wrap or tag idea complete with instructions to arrive in their email inbox for the 12 weeks straight weeks.

Are you signed up yet?  If not, enter your email address in the subscription box below.  After you submit your information, you will be sent an email asking you to confirm your enrollment. You must sign up AND confirm your subscription before 1pm on October 5th in order to receive the first issue of the 12 Weeks of Christmas series! Each week will bring new inspiration for you to create your own handmade holiday items!

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Simple Secret Pocket Cards For Sending Cash!

I set out this morning to design a birthday card for a teenage girl that included a pocket for cash!  I decided that I didn't want the pocket to be obvious, and came up with this simple secret pocket card:

This card could be easily used for a teenage boy (I haven't met a teen yet who doesn't like money!) - but I might swap out the designer paper used to back my cupcake to something more 'manly'.  

The pocket couldn't be easier!  I simply cut a slit 1/2 inch from either side of my blue card front with a quilting ruler and an exacto knife prior to gluing it to my card base. The slit is placed right at the top of some embossed lines.  If you are looking for tips  to create these partial embossed lines, look at this prior post for a Simply Scored tool tip (click here).  The wrapped ribbon is placed across the slit but not glued down (except on the backside of the paper).  

This card also uses a handful of our punches - shop the entire collection, click here!

Card Made With Another Handmade Honeycomb Stamp!

I love the imagery of bees and honeycomb!  Stampin' Up! has offered many beautiful bee images over the years, but I don't believe we've ever offered a honeycomb stamp (although I could be wrong!).  Recently I shared with you my upcycled craft for creating your own honeycomb stamp with scrap rubber (click here for the honeycomb stamp tutorial).  Today I decided that my original honeycomb stamp was too large for the bee images I own and set out to make a more petite version.

I will note that, when you make a smaller stamp, it takes a lot more stamping to create a honeycomb background.  My spacing definitely became more haphazard as I moved across the card! Perhaps I should make several and group them all on a single clear block in the future?  

If you are interested in additional bee inspiration, check out these prior posts:

 

Handmade Lemon Hand Scrub

 

Large Honeycomb Stamp Card

 

Simple Bee Notecards

     

Pottery Barn Inspired Notecard

Next to bees, my other fetish is roosters, but I see they are definitely not represented on my blog!  I think I need to get to work.  Do you have a favorite image or theme you like to use in your art work?  Share in the comments section below.  Maybe I can find a new favorite!

More Uses for Paper Scraps: Upcycled Back to School Corner Bookmarks

Anyone who has taken classes with me, or who has followed my blog, knows that I love to use up my paper scraps - preferably in a fast and easy project!  These Back to School corner bookmarks couldn't be easier, and are dressed up with scraps of Designer Series Paper & more.  I'll tuck these in my daughter's backpack with her back to school supplies as a handmade gift to brighten her first day of school - but they could just as easily be used as a back to school gift for a teacher in your life! 

The pattern for these bookmarks has been around for awhile, with each paper crafter adding their own tweaks to make it their own. 

Here are my extra project tips:

1. This project is perfect for using up scrap card stock too!
   
   If you have large pieces of card stock that are smudged, printed or stamped on the one side (yes, I save these scraps too!), use the 'dirty' side of the card stock as the inside of the bookmark.  Simply cut away an extra triangle of the flaps (as shown on my pictorial tutorial at the bottom of this post).  The back of your bookmark will no longer be square, but the 'dirt' won't show!
   
   
2. Don't make your embellishments too thick!
   
   
   
   Remember, these bookmarks will be marking a page in a book.  This is not the time to use half inch deep flowers or other large embellishments.  Keep your decorations as flat as possible - using punches makes this easy!
   
   
3. Have an old card front you love?  Use it!
   
   From this:
   
   
   
   To this:
   
   
   
   Details from old cards can readily be pulled off and used as decoration for these corner bookmarks.  Scrap card stock, scrap DSP, and scrap embellishments ... that is a completely green/upcycled gift for back to school!
   
   
4. Put your bookmark on a card front as an embellishment!
   
   These bookmarks can just as easily decorate a card front as a book - and if you mount it on a card front temporarily, it makes a practical embellishment your recipient will use for years to come!

To download a free 'fast and dirty' simple pictorial tutorial (how is that for a play on words?), click here.

Punch Art Techniques: Military Dog Tags

Do you want to know a quick tip for making great masculine embellishments (military dog tags) for your paper craft projects? 

Simply take a rectangle of card stock and punch it with a large circle punch!  That simply you have a dog tag shape for your project. (see video below)

Want your project to look even more realistic?  Use the faux metal heat embossing technique.  (also in video below)  Don't forget to add some ball chain!

Here is a video from the Stampin' Up! home office that shows how to create this shape and to do the faux metal heat embossing technique!

While Shannon West has used these techniques to recreate the look found in the card sample on page 105 of the 2012-2013 Idea Book & Catalog, you can use these techniques for many projects:

• scrapping current military photos
• scrapping your heritage photos of Veterans
• scrapping your son's paint ball game
• masculine teen birthday cards

And don't forget to pair it with some camouflage background stamps - click here for instructions to make your own!

And I'm certain you can come up with many more!  Masculine embellishments can be hard to find.  With these techniques you can skip the florals and work with something more appropriate!

Scrap Rubber Honeycomb Makes a Sweet Card!

Today I want to share with you my technique for a homemade honeycomb stamp!  I think it has been about a year since I've shared with you one of my upcycled custom made stamps from scrap rubber. (Yep, I don't like to see anything go to waste!) 

Note:  If you've missed my prior projects, click the following links -

• Homemade Camouflage blog post can be found here 
• Faux Mosaic Stamps YouTube videos - how to create the stamp can be found here and then how to use it here

To create my honeycomb stamp used in the card above, you need a clear or wood mount stamp set that has sufficient leftover rubber - I prefer clear mount as explained below and used the large section left over from the Morning Post Alphabet Stamp Set.  Once you have a piece of rubber large enough for your chosen honeycomb size, you simply cut the shape directly from the rubber using your Craft and Rubber Scissors (these really are superior than any other scissors for this use).  You are now ready to stamp away!

    

Technique Tip:  Do not worry if your stamp is not perfectly shaped, or if your stamping is not evenly spaced ... the final results will be recognizeable by all!  And if you create your stamp from clear mount rubber, it will be much easier to stamp a full sheet of honeycomb without resorting to the stamp-a-ma-jig! 

To finish off my card, my bees are stamped from the Nature Walk Stamp Set (I think I will emboss them in black next time around) and my greeting is from the retired Just Buzzin' By stamp set.  I hope you will forgive me, but I just couldn't resist using a theme appropriate greeting, even if it is no longer available!  If you did not purchase this set before it retired, you could always computer generate your greeting and print it onto cardstock.

Have you come up with any additional uses for leftover rubber?  I'd love to have you share with me!  Please leave a comment below.

Creating with Retiring Stamp Sets

Can you believe there are only two more weeks left to purchase the retiring stamp sets before the new 2012-2013 Idea Book goes live?  (click here to shop retiring merchandise)

I actually did manage to get into my craft room for a bit on Mother's Day, but had difficulty getting into the groove of card creation.  There are a lot of bits and pieces scattered on my desk as I tried first one idea and then another, but I did pull together a couple simple cards.  I think the weather is just too pretty.  If it were lousier maybe I would stop being drawn outside instead ... then maybe I could focus a bit better.  Grin.

How about a bit of Upsy Daisy and Baroque Motifs:
(the tiny butterflies are a sneak peek into the new catalog!)

    

In creating this card, I really wished I had the new Classic Ink foam pads to try out - while I love bold silhouette images, I always have struggled with getting a solid crisp image with our current ink pads (see the incomplete inking on some of the central flowers?).  Stampin' Up! has worked to solve this issue with our new pads.  For more information click here.

Technique:

The shadowing on the daisies was done with a Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker after inking the stamp in Lucky Limeade.  Don't forget to 'huff' on the stamp before stamping to remoisten the ink.

For those of you sitting the fence on some of these retiring stamp sets, as well as those who have retiring stamps in your collection but want to see see samples, I'll try to post more finished projects later this week!

Don't miss out:  click here to shop retiring merchandise!